Archaeologists have uncovered a 2,700-year-old tomb near the ancient Etruscan town of Vulci, located north of Rome. The tomb, nicknamed the Tomb of the Stone Chamber, was discovered this summer and contains a rich collection of grave goods, including weapons, gold and bronze plates, chariot parts, a rare pair of women's shoes, and a complete banquet set. Despite repeated attempts by tomb robbers over the centuries, many of the artifacts remained remarkably intact. This discovery builds on earlier work by French archaeologists in the late 19th century. In 1889, archaeologist Stéphane Gsell identified the circular enclosure of an Etruscan burial mound in Vulci’s cemetery, but he could not locate the tomb itself due to time and financial limitations. Now, archaeologists involved in the Return to Vulci project believe they have found the burial chamber inside the "Gsell tumulus," which is much larger than previously thought. Christian Mazet, an archaeologist at the British Museum and co-director of the project, noted that the presence of weapons, chariot parts, gold objects, and high-quality ceramics suggests the tomb belonged to someone of high social rank. The tomb dates back to the seventh century B.C. and was found with three burial chambers and numerous artifacts preserved beneath collapsed roofs, including jewelry, clothing, and shoes. Among the items found in the side chambers were a bronze tripod from the Greek island of Rhodes and a nearly complete banquet set, with some vessels still in their original positions after centuries underground. The Etruscans ruled central Italy for several centuries, but their society began to decline in the fourth century B.C. with the rise of Roman civilization. Much of what is known about the Etruscans comes from archaeological sites like Vulci, as their language is only partially understood. The Tomb of the Stone Chamber was built during Vulci’s peak period. Gsell originally estimated the Gsell tumulus to be about 102 feet (31 meters) in diameter, calling it a "new Cuccumella" after the largest previously discovered Etruscan burial mound at Vulci, which measured around 230 feet (70 meters) in diameter. Initial calculations suggest the Tomb of the Stone Chamber may be similar in size to the Cuccumella tumulus, or even larger. Mazet stated that the tomb appears to be one of the most monumental at Vulci. To protect the site, the tomb and burial mound have been covered, with further research planned for 2027, according to the SABAP-VT-EM statement.